When traveling as a non-rev airline employee (non-rev means we fly free...on standby) there are ups and downs....usually with a lot of uncertainty and stress. Thankfully we've been doing this for over 20 years and we've learned to "roll with it" when it comes to our travel days. A typical travel day may look a lot like this.... Constantly checking the flight standby lists the day before and day of and placing bets of which flight looks the best. There are never any guarantees that we’ll get a seat. This makes it interesting to make travel plans and you must always have a backup plan. Rain and ground holds can throw off your whole schedule! Instead of ending up in Buffalo last night, we sat on the tarmac in Tampa for 45 minutes and slept in Detroit...for a whole 5 hours...before starting all over again. Can I just say that Sheraton’s beds were so dreamy!! Larger flights are usually less complicated then smaller regional flights. This mornings adventure ... [ Read More ]
“Get Wild” Animal Painted Rock Challenge
How is it possible that May is almost over?? That means summer vacation, school is out, and things are getting WILD here! In honor of all of the wild fun we'll be having this summer, this month's challenge theme is a "Get Wild" animal challenge! This challenge can be done at any time, it doesn't necessarily have to be completed during June. Since there are no rules in rock painting, have fun and enjoy this wild challenge! If you want to share your creations,the Painted Rock Challenge group is a fun place to share your rocks and get inspired by other rockers. It’s a private group on Facebook and easy (and free) to join! New to Rock Painting? Start here: Painted Rocks – How to Get Started ... [ Read More ]
Ideas for End of Year & Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony Gifts
It's the end of the school year and we're completing another year of Girl Scouts. This year our troop expanded to a multi-level troop with girls ranging from 2nd grade (Brownies) to 4th grade (Juniors). The majority of our girls are bridging over to Junior Girl Scouts this year so we're planning our big end of year Bridging Ceremony. We have so much to celebrate with these girls for all of their hard work this year. Our troop sold over 5,500 boxes of cookies during cookie season and had a lot of money to spend on the girls and our community. We had a great outing at an aerial ropes and zip line course near us with some of the profits from cookie sales. Another large portion will go to their end of year Take Action project. They are making care packages for the families and patients at a local hospice center and delivering those in about a week (or two). Whatever funds are left after they add to their saving account for next year are being used for their end of year party and ... [ Read More ]
Last Minute Teacher Appreciation Printable Card
I am not usually one to go all Pinterest-y for Teacher Appreciation Week. Our school (PTA/PTO) does a great job helping parents with theme'd days throughout the week....but let me just be completely transparent here....I never complete their ideas!! I have great intentions and then life happens and I just do not have the time (or the energy) to do something every day of the week. I work full-time, volunteer when I can, and totally appreciate my children's teachers....but I just do not have time to pull off a "big" teacher appreciation week. Instead, I run to Starbucks (or Dunkin Donuts or anyplace really) and buy up several gift cards for their teachers. I typically ask my kids to make a quick card as we're running out the door. I'm feeling quite proud of my efforts today, so why not share them with other busy last-minute parents who may need them!! If you are creative at all you could always create your own card using PicMonkey or other online graphic/photo editing ... [ Read More ]
Newly Renovated Tampa Marriott Westshore Tour
We were invited to tour the newly renovated Tampa Marriott Westshore during their Open House last night and were impressed with the updates. During their Open House, we were invited to explore the hotel and all that it has to offer guests. If I were planning a conference, work event or party this would be a location that I would consider in the Tampa Bay area. For wedding receptions, bridal showers, baby showers, or any other type of casual event their pool area is absolutely beautiful. Their pool deck offers an indoor/outdoor seating and swimming area. For those sun worshipers who need their Vitamin D, the outdoor area is beautiful. For those who need a break from the sun or on those hot Tampa summer days, the veranda would be a fun place to relax. The great thing about their pool area is that both the indoor and outdoor areas are connected so your party guests would all be in the same general area. For families on vacation this would be a perfect place to relax with small ... [ Read More ]
Painted Rock Challenge – 31 Days of Flowers
Instead of our traditional Painted Rock Challenge list for May, I decided to do a themed challenge. Since April showers bring May flowers....this new challenge is 31 days of flowers!! I can't wait to see the bouquet of paint rocks that will never wilt!! What are your favorite flowers? Which flowers do you look forward to receiving at Mother's Day? Which flowers are currently blooming outside your house? There are no rules in rock painting, so just have fun! If you decide to skip a day (or two), no one is grading you or kicking you out of the club. Life gets busy and many of us can’t complete the entire challenge, the ideas are just to keep you motivated and inspired. If you want to share your creations,the Painted Rock Challenge group is a fun place to share your rocks and get inspired by other rockers. It’s a private group on Facebook and easy (and free) to join! New to Rock Painting? Start here: Painted Rocks – How to Get Started ... [ Read More ]
Parenting Badge Unlocked – Teen Learners Permit
This post is sponsored by Blinker; a new app for buying, selling, and refinancing cars in the US. Now available in Colorado, Texas, Florida and California. To download the app today: https://www.blinker.com/ ...and so it begins. I've unlocked a new parenting badge; teen driver! My son turned 15 last month and within a few days he had passed his road sign test and had his learners permit in hand. I'm still not sure how my baby is old enough to be behind the wheel of my car. We've only practiced driving a few times so far, but I'm sure this year is going to zoom by quicker than any year in the past. So far we've learned that I'm a much more patient teacher than my husband and that my Jeep Cherokee is easier to drive than my husband's Jeep Wrangler. We've also learned that driving over 30 mph and making turns into neighborhoods may take a little more practice! Right now we're sticking to back roads that are less traveled and during non-peak times of the day. I did try to ... [ Read More ]
Are you Green Enough? {Book Review & Tips}
Hint: There is no wrong answer here! You ARE enough and we can all make changes in our lives to be a little more green. About a week ago I received a book from a friend and fellow blogger, Leah Segedie. The book, Green Enough, will be available on Amazon starting March 20th. You can preorder it now! To shop my Amazon Affiliate Link: http://amzn.to/2HOCmAG Green Enough is available in hardcover and on Kindle. ...before you start rolling your eyes, I need to confess something. I am NOT the super "eco chic" that many of my followers once considered me to be. Way back in the days when I first started this blog it went by a different name, The Eco Chic. A few years ago I was struggling with identifying with that title any longer because I felt like I was more than just someone who wanted to write about eco-friendly living. I also realized that there was so much more to being a green influencer/blogger than recycling, cloth diapers and menstrual cups. Several years ago, the ... [ Read More ]
Florida Prepaid Enrollment Ends Today
This is it, your final day to enroll in the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan for 2017-18. This post is in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Plans as part of their Starting is Believing campaign. All opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the company. What are you waiting for? There will never be a time when you have "enough" to do everything you want (or need) to do for your kids. Just like there isn't a perfect time to have kids; there isn't a perfect time to start saving for their college. So just do it! Plans start at as little as $47 a month. Five Ways to Save $47 a Month: Coffee! If you make a trip to the coffee shop every day of the month, skip that trip nine days and make coffee at home instead. At around $5 per trip, you'll have $45 extra each month to put towards a college plan instead. Pack a Lunch! I have one kid who packs lunch each day for school and one who prefers to buy school lunch. It adds up quick if they buy school ... [ Read More ]
Valspar Championship 2018
March is almost here! The temperatures here in Florida are breaking records and the pollen is already dusting the cars. My tulip bulbs have just started to bud and it's an official sign that Spring is almost here. That also means that the Valspar Championship is headed to Palm Harbor, FL for a week full of golf, entertainment, games, food trucks and music! We've slowly seen the course transform and prepare for the tournament over the past month. We visited the Innisbrook pool this weekend with friends and the Valspar tents are set up along the Copperhead course and ready for the players. I'll be attending their Executive Women's Day even and influencer day next week. Their Executive Women's Day is an event that hosts local women executives and speakers from around the globe to empower one another. It was a fascinating event to attend last year and I'm excited to have been invited back again this year. About the Valspar Championship: The tournament events begin March 5 ... [ Read More ]
